The History of Scripture.

IN the book of Genesis we have the record of seven men who obtained a good report through faith (see Heb. 11:1-221Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2For by it the elders obtained a good report. 3Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. 4By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. 5By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. 7By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. 8By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 11Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. 12Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. 13These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. 17By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. 20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. 21By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. 22By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones. (Hebrews 11:1‑22)). Dese men lived before God gave any Holy Scriptures to His people, so they had to depend for instruction on divine revelation, given either by Jehovah appearing or calling out of heaven, or by angels or dreams.
Thus Moses was the first man to write God’s records, and his five books cover an immense area of God’s dealings with mankind. They begin with God’s ways in creation, and His estimate of it before man was created, and end with the yet future blessing of Israel. The Lord Jesus commented on Moses’ writings, “he wrote of me,” and “if ye believe not his writings, how can ye believe my words” (John 5:4747But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words? (John 5:47)). Moses was faithful in God’s house (see Num. 12:77My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. (Numbers 12:7)), and so we can trust all he wrote, and profit by his faithful records given by the Holy Spirit.
Concerning the book of the law which was to guide Israel in the ways of the Lord, it is very noticeable where it was ordered to be kept. We read: “Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God” (Deut. 31:2626Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee. (Deuteronomy 31:26)).
Now the ark was a figure of Christ, and the book had to be kept in contact with it — a striking figure of how the Scriptures must be connected with Christ Jesus (see 2 Tim. 3:1515And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 3:15)). Apart from faith in Christ Jesus they are not much understood.
Joshua was the first man who was shown the importance of the book. We read: “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success” (Josh. 1:88This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. (Joshua 1:8)). This is an important lesson for God’s people today, and the judgment-seat of Christ will disclose how far their service has been regulated by subjection to the Holy Scriptures.
The king in Israel was to write for himself a copy of the law, as we read: “And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests, the Levites: and it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the Lord his God” (Deut. 17:1818And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites: (Deuteronomy 17:18)).
David was the first king to whom God gave fresh communications, and he wrote most of the Psalms. His son Solomon, too, was a writer; King Hezekiah likewise (comp. 2 Chronicles 35:44And prepare yourselves by the houses of your fathers, after your courses, according to the writing of David king of Israel, and according to the writing of Solomon his son. (2 Chronicles 35:4); Isa. 38:99The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and was recovered of his sickness: (Isaiah 38:9)). In King Josiah’s day, we read, “Hilkiah the priest found a book of the law of the Lord given by Moses... and Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan... and Shaphan carried the book to the king... and Shaphan read it before the king” (2 Chron. 34:14-1814And when they brought out the money that was brought into the house of the Lord, Hilkiah the priest found a book of the law of the Lord given by Moses. 15And Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord. And Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan. 16And Shaphan carried the book to the king, and brought the king word back again, saying, All that was committed to thy servants, they do it. 17And they have gathered together the money that was found in the house of the Lord, and have delivered it into the hand of the overseers, and to the hand of the workmen. 18Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath given me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king. (2 Chronicles 34:14‑18)). How long the knowledge of the book had been lost we do not read, but anyhow so long that its contents were unknown to Josiah until Shaphan the scribe read them to him. In this country most persons have a Bible in their houses, but, alas! its true teaching seems to be almost as unknown as in the days of Josiah.
If we pass on to the prophets who were instructed to write their messages in order to preserve them for the then future time, all of them regarded what had already been written by former writers, and every fresh revelation was consistent with what had gone before, plainly showing the origin of prophecy of Scripture, and how one mind gave it all. “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:2121For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (2 Peter 1:21)). Each writer based his statements on the history of either persons or places recorded by former writers, while he himself opened up things yet to come, so far as the Holy Spirit was pleased to give him at the particular time.
When Jesus came as the One who was full of grace and truth, He recognized the importance of all the light and truth God had previously given through His prophets, and frequently alluded to what they had said, quoting their sayings as having full authority. He pointed out that the Scriptures testified of Himself (John 5:3939Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. (John 5:39)), and after His resurrection He expounded to His disciples from the Scriptures things concerning Himself, and further said that “all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the Psalms concerning Me.... Then opened He their understandings that they might understand the Scriptures” (Luke 24:27, 4527And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. (Luke 24:27)
45Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, (Luke 24:45)).
Jesus thus most blessedly confirmed every part of the Old Testament, and by His own teachings gave additional light, which only a Divine Person could have imparted, as One who was in the bosom of the Father while He was here on earth (see John 1:1818No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. (John 1:18)). When He had ascended up where he was before His incarnation, He sent down the Holy Spirit, through whom we have a fresh class of writings. The Old Testament writers spoke of the coming of Christ and the work which He should accomplish; while the Apostles of the New Testament wrote of the same blessed Person as having died, risen, and ascended, and also unfolded the effect of all He had done, as associating all believers with Christ where He now is. These New Testament writers all quoted from the Old Testament writers, showing the one Spirit permeating every part of inspired writing. Thus the Old and New Testament writings are one whole, and are so woven together that it is impossible to separate any portion without destroying the whole. The enemy of our souls knows this, and works craftily by employing professing Christians, under the name of higher critics, to do his dreadful work of shaking the faith of simple believers.
Bold infidels have for many years rejected the whole of the Scriptures, denying them to be Divinely inspired; so believers do not listen to them. But, alas! those who attack parts of Scripture, under the show of learning, are not so readily avoided, and many believers who were once bright in their souls have fallen under this snare of the devil. Many such are never recovered in this world. However, their breakdown does not affect the faithfulness of the Holy Spirit to remain in them, and the Lord’s faithfulness to come and claim them as His own, by virtue of His death and resurrection.
G. W. GY.
Fragment. ― The Bible, though composed of sixty-six parts, is one unique whole. In the Old Testament you have in the historical books the figures, and in the Psalms the feelings, of Christ presented.
In the New Testament you have in the Gospels the facts of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection, and in the Epistles the fruits thereof.
W. T. P. W.